Summer 2014 — Quarterly newsletter of the Metropolitan Planning OrganizationMobility Matters is a quarterly newsletter about the transportation planning activities and air quality
programs of the North Central Texas Council of Governments and the Regional Transportation
Council — together serving as the Metropolitan Planning Organization for the Dallas-Fort Worth
area since 1974.
Contact us at mobilitymatters@nctcog.org.

Photos: NTTADrivers were not the only ones who waited anxiously for the opening of the Chisholm Trail Parkway. A full weekend of events, including a fun run, half marathon and bike ride preceded the opening of the 28-mile toll road in May.

As the clock ticked down to the opening of the Chisholm Trail Parkway, dozens of cars stood in line, their drivers waiting in anticipation, wanting to be among the first to test the freshly opened road. It’s not every day that a road, tolled or not, elicits that kind of excitement, but Chisholm Trail was decades in the making and pursued by public officials, residents and business leaders all along its footprint. <More>[PDF]

High Speed Rail in Texas More than a DreamA Message from Michael Morris,
Transportation Director

As we celebrate our 40th anniversary as the region’s metropolitan planning organization this year, it is important to not only look back, but gaze into the future. It’s easy to dream about flying cars and other far-off technologies. But one futuristic option may not be that unrealistic, thanks to work being done by the private sector. <More>[PDF]

The differences between
construction in Dallas-Fort
Worth and a war zone are
stark. Here, workers are protected
against oncoming traffic by
slower speed limits, concrete
barriers and warning signs. In
war zones, the military or armed
guards provide workers building
roads and installing other needed
infrastructure defense against the
threat of attack.

Stephen Lindsey experienced the
differences firsthand while
serving with the US State
Department as part of the Iraq
War civilian surge in 2007-08. <More>[PDF]

40 Years of Transportation Planning

The North Central Texas
Council of Governments and
Regional Transportation
Council this year are celebrating
the 40th anniversary of their
designation by Governor Dolph
Briscoe as the metropolitan planning organization for the
Dallas-Fort Worth area. Much has changed since
Governor Briscoe’s April 1974
decision. <More>[PDF]

North Texas is experiencing continued expansion of its
bicycle and pedestrian
(active transportation) network.
Many cities are cooperating in
pursuit of improved connectivity
between communities and
linkages to major destinations.

For example, last year five area
mayors agreed to coordinate
efforts to complete trail
connections that will provide a continuous network from Fort
Worth to Dallas, winding
through Arlington, Grand Prairie
and Irving. The region currently has a 1,000-mile network of off-street trails
and 82 miles of on-street
bikeways, including dedicated
bike lanes and shared lanes. <More>[PDF]

Art Contest Winner Showcased

Congratulations to Dawna
Berry, a sixth-grader at
Arlington Independent School
District’s Butler Elementary.
Berry won the Progress North
Texas art contest, which asked
Berry and her schoolmates in
AISD to draw
how they think they will get to
work on their 40th birthday.
Berry’s illustration appeared on
the cover of Progress North
Texas 2014: The Story of
Transportation in Dallas-Fort
Worth. <More>[PDF]